Boy meets Girl. They marry. Single friends cope. With this simple story Blue Yonder Films is breaking into Hollywood via downtown Tulsa.

Blue Yonder Films is made up of ORU alum Rob Yanovitch (92) and a handful of Anderson University alums Cory Edwards, Todd Edwards, Brad Knull, and Preston Stutzman. Up until this past year the guys at Blue Yonder were living on peanut butter and corn bread while doing commercial work for companies such as WGN in Chicago, KC Royals and PSO, and dreaming of making films.

This past year they were making their dreams reality with "Chillicothe" (pronounced Chill of Coffee - and named after a town in Ohio), their first "Blue Yonder's purpose is to make feature films Yanovitch said. "Films that have main stream appeal but more importantly to us, they're built around spiritual truths and morality. They are very much like modern day parables."

"Chillicothe" takes a unique look at life after marriage - for those left out. The film, by Todd Edwards, stars, among others, ORU grads Yanovitch (92), Tara Racynski (Hundley - 97) and current ORU student Charity Gassman. Brothers Tony (90) and Dennis Leech (94) also worked with the film as assistant director and production coordinator, respectively.

The 35-mm film (more than 80,000 feet of film was used) was produced with a budget under a million dollars (many worked on a deferred payment option) and yet still sports a cast of 40 with over 300 extras. Principal photography took place in Tulsa this past winter and was completed in 34 days. They are currently seeking funding for the final film print (a step they could skip by going straight to video - but it could weaken their position when the film is picked up for distribution).

While in the midst of post production for "Chillicothe," they are also in pre-production for "The Night Divine." "The Night Divine," formerly titled "Swanky Nights" (changed because of a recent distasteful movie of a similar name), has already been shopped around in Hollywood with the use of a trailer and has received a lot of positive response. The one drawback for major Hollywood funding was the lack of a complete film to market. To overcome this. Blue Yonder began thc production of "Chillicothe," a semi-autobiographical film, which has a smaller budget than "The Night Divine."

"Divine" already has one star committed (Michael Rapaport -Beautiful Girls, Metro & Copland) and is in negotiations with some other Hollywood heavyweights. Yanovitch, Blue Yonder's business manager (he's "in charge of the nickels"), believes the success of "Chillicothe" will strengthen their hand when they approach future projects, and present investors with a proven independent film.

The guys at Blue Yonder are having a great time pursuing their dream of making films, even though they still subsist on peanut butter and corn bread.

For more information contact Blue Yonder at 918-582-3131.

Photo Captions for soon to be scanned photos: Top: Actress Kathryn Smith walks through blocking for Director of Photography Brett Reynolds and Grip Brian Boyll. Upper right: The main cast of "Chillicothe" from I to r Peter Bedgood, Brooklyn Bedgood, Charity Gassman (99) Roh Yanovitch (92), Tara Racynski (97), Cory Edwards, Vicki Edwards, Troy Norton, Brad Knull, Lori-ann Belin, and Todd Edwards. Right: The guys behind Blue Yonder Films: Todd Edwards, Cory Edwards, Rob Yanovitch (92), Brad Knull, Preston Stutzman.

by Philip Pfanstiel

published Spring 1998 in The Communique